Soil correction and fertilization in the no-till systems in Brazilian Cerrados region

IPI sponsored the 'Documentos 46' published by the Brazilian National Soils Research Center of EMBRAPA (Brazilian Corporation for Agricultural Research). The document contains an overview of 25 years of practicing No-Till in Brazilian Cerrados (savanna) region, and describes the main features and advantages of the No-Till cultivation system. Recommendations for soil liming, application of gypsum and fertilization with macro and micro nutrients are given.

The term "...Improving fertilizing"... is used when describing the first fertilization cycle given after conversion to arable land, in soils of the Cerrados with K <50 ppm and clay content >200 g/kg. It is recommended to apply 60 kg/ha of K₂O for achieving yields of 3 and 6 t/ha of soybeans and maize, respectively. More results from the IPI / EMBRAPA field experiments in Goias state indicate that response of the Cerrado soils to potash fertilizing depends also on other external factors such as weather conditions, previous land use and the application method of potash.

For more details please contact Dr. A. Naumov, IPI Coordinator Latin America.